Saturday, January 16, 2010

Lately, there has been a proliferation of Cold Steel fakes appearing on the market. These are sub standard knock-offs and they damage Cold Steel’s reputation immeasurably. They are dangerous too! When you purchase a knock-off backpack, shoes, or clothing for example, it may fall to pieces because of shoddy workmanship, leaving you, the consumer, footing the bill. If a knife fails because of poor workmanship, you could end up being terribly injured or, at worse, dead, if you were relying on it for self defense.

Cold Steel knock-offs are being produced and sold at an alarming rate. By way of definition, a Cold Steel knock-off is a cheaply produced, poorly manufactured copy of one of our products that is being sold as the genuine article. These products are, naturally, not covered by the Cold Steel warranty. Be especially wary, because these items are being sold in fake Cold Steel boxes and are stamped or etched with a fake Cold Steel brand logo. As a Cold Steel customer you should know what to look for when you purchase a Cold Steel product.

Tell Tale Signs:

Unfortunately, like bogus currency, it is difficult to tell the difference, and usually it takes a direct comparison to an authentic piece to see the difference, but here are some red flags that should tip you off.

Is the item marked down substantially from the suggested retail price? This, first and foremost, should be the most obvious clue. If an item normally has a suggested retail price of $100 and it's being offered for $50 or less, you can be pretty sure that you’re being ripped off.

Is the quality up to Cold Steel's standards? Look at the fittings and the finish. Are the grind lines crisp, and clean or are they blurry and indistinct? Is the blade razor sharp, or is it just somewhat sharp? If you’re buying a San Mai knife, can you see the laminate line where the different kinds of steel meet?

If it is a fixed blade knife, look at the sheath that came with it? Is it a sturdy quality piece, or something made of the cheapest materials available?

If it is a folder, is the lock sturdy? Does the blade wobble? Is the locking mechanism strong?

Make sure you research what you're buying. Get our catalog, go to our website and look up the item you plan to purchase from another vendor. Does it look the same? Many of these fakes are easy to expose, simply becase they don't resemble anything Cold Steel sells. They just trade on the Cold Steel name.

Be aware of situations where this kind of commerce takes place. Flea Markets, Swap Meets, garage sales, and street vendors are places where you're most likely to be ripped off. Above all, use common sense, if a street vendor is trying to sell you a Rolex watch for $10, for example, your common sense should tell you that it is very likely a fake! Also be on the lookout for disreputable websites that list only a phone number or a P.O. box for contact information. We've even discovered some of this trash product on Ebay (to be fair, Ebay has been very cooperative with us and has removed fraudulent products when we request them to do so). read more...

About Mossberg®

Since 1919, Mossberg® has been the leader in introducing important design breakthroughs to the firearm industry. Many product features pioneered by Mossberg® are now the standards by which all modern firearms are judged. Never content with the status quo, our men and women constantly strive to improve and update the capabilities of all Mossberg® products. In accomplishing this goal, we recognize that each improvement is a part of the "Shooting System" approach and most are designed to fit the shotgun you bought years ago. Our design and innovative edge is truly changing the way shooters use shotguns and rifles. We are particularly proud that our Mossberg® pump shotguns are the only shotguns purchased by the United States government that meet or exceed Mil-S-3443 specifications. It is this basis of unquestionable quality that drives Mossberg® to bring reliable, well-built shooting systems to you at an affordable price. The shooting sports have been an American tradition for generations. Today, thousands of sportsmen and sportswomen focus their energy on the betterment of the shooting sports by participating in national and local organizations. We sincerely appreciate these efforts, and we salute all future members for continuing our proud heritage.

Mission Statement

We are a team dedicated to safety, quality, value and continuous improvement through partnerships of employees, customers and our suppliers. Uncompromised customer satisfaction is our priority. read more....

Garmin is founded on the principles of innovation, convenience, performance, value, and service. Our co-founders Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao, display our innovative products in the lobby of our Olathe, Kansas, world headquarters.

What began as a brainstorming session of a handful of engineers around a card table in 1989 has evolved into a worldwide collaborative effort of thousands of colleagues. Garmin’s goal, as it was then, remains simple: To create navigation and communication devices that can enrich our customers’ lives. Our innovative products span various areas of interest, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.A member of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), Garmin International exemplifies growth for everyone involved – consumers, employees, investors and retail partners. The secret to our success isn’t even that much of a secret. From the time that the founders focused on selling their first product using GPS (Global Positioning System), Garmin has hired and surrounded itself with creative minds and passionate spirits.

The power of “Vertical Integration”

Garmin is thriving because we take pride in the cooperative environment that stems from vertical integration — we design, manufacture, market and sell our products ourselves. During any given conversation about a product, you’re likely to find engineers, designers, product testers, artists, writers and salespeople sharing their thoughts. Investing in innovation has been central to Garmin’s success. The original handful of employees in 1989 grew to a work force of 1,000 just 10 years later. That number doubled within four years and eclipsed 4,000 by 2006. In 2007, Garmin’s worldwide work force topped 7,000 and showed little sign of slowing amid expansion in Europe and Asia.

In touch with the world

We design our products with the customer in mind. Sidestepping the stress of navigation or travel begins with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features.

Automotive products help drivers reach their destination effortlessly while getting the most out of the journey

Marine units supplement detailed charts with essential data

Aviation technology provides everything pilots need at a glance

Fitness devices make every step of the workout more efficient.

Outdoor recreation options are available for hikers, campers and geocachers

Wireless applications bring the power of GPS to your smart phone

Whether in their rental car or at a retail store, first-time Garmin users quickly realize the wealth of information that can be packed into a compact, portable unit.

The Garmin mindset

BUCK. INGENUITY RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

A young Kansas blacksmith apprentice named Hoyt Buck was looking for a better way to temper steel so it would hold an edge longer. His unique approach produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Hoyt made each knife by hand, using worn-out file blades as raw material. His handy work was greatly appreciated during World War II. After the war, Hoyt and his son Al moved to San Diego and set up shop as H.H. Buck & Son in 1947. Al Buck revolutionized the knife industry in 1964 with the Model 110 Folding Hunter. The folding “lockblade” knife made Buck a leader. A position we proudly hold today. Hoyt and Al Buck's ingenuity may have put the company on the map. But it is our ongoing commitment to developing innovative new products and improving what we have by third and fourth generation Buck family members that have made Buck the successful knife maker it is today. Frankly, it's what our customers expect from a Buck.

Why Buck? Because for over 100 years we have stood for reliability.

We are proud of the fact we’ve been making well-crafted, reliable tools for more than 100 years. But the most important part of all that experience is that it better prepares us for the knives we’re making today and tomorrow.

Of course you want a knife that works, and when you buy a Buck knife you get more than a piece of steel and a handle. We’ve always been known as much for the way we did business as for the knives we made. A perfect example is our lifetime warranty. It was unheard of in our industry, but it was really just an extension of the way Hoyt Buck lived his life. You have to be there for people. This has always been the Buck way.

Savage Arms History

A Century of Quality Firearms Development. The Savage Arms Company was organized in 1894 by Arthur Savage in Utica, New York. A native of Jamaica, Arthur led a romantic life, having been schooled in England and the United States. In his thirties, he explored the interior of Australia and was held captive for a year by Aborigines. Later, he became the owner of the largest cattle ranch in Australia.

After moving to Utica, New York, he developed the Savage Halpine torpedo, became the Superintendent of the Utica Belt Line Railroad, and invented the first "hammerless" lever action rifle with the entire mechanism enclosed in a steel receiver. This remarkable rifle featured a rotary magazine with a unique counter that visually displayed the number of bullets remaining in the receiver. The Model 99, as it became known, advanced firearm technology, offered the average person an affordable rifle, and started a business that has stood the test of time. In 1919, Chief Lame Bear (above) approached Arthur to purchase lever-action rifles for the Indian reservation and the two men struck a deal. The tribe would get discounted rifles and Savage would get their support and endorsement. It was at this time in the company's history, that Arthur Savage added the Indian head logo--a direct gift from the Chief--to the company name. By 1919, Savage Arms was manufacturing high power rifles, 22 caliber rifles, pistols and ammunition. During World War I, Savage merged with Driggs-Seabury Ordnance Company, and made Lewis machine guns. In 1920, Savage purchased J. Stevens Arms, a company which was associated with the famous barrel maker, Harry Pope. Later, Savage acquired the assets of Page Lewis Company, Davis-Warner Arms, Crescent Firearms, and A.H. Fox, thereby becoming the largest firearm company in the free world. During World War II, Savage contributed literally millions of firearms to the campaign, converting its factories to accommodate heavy munitions. After the war, Savage had excess capacity and adopted some of its manufacturing processes to alternate consumer products, including the world's first motorized lawnmower. Between the early 1960's and late 1980's, numerous public and private corporations owned and sold Savage Arms, culminating in a reorganization of the business and a filing for bankruptcy protection in early 1988. Ronald Coburn was named president/CEO and redefined the future of the business. The company downsized and produced only the model 110 bolt-action rifle until mid 1989.By early 1990, the company was once again on a secure footing, having developed a strategy to build superior products at a reasonable price, something the competition could not match. Savage continued to redefine value during the 1990's, developing new products, improving materials and adding features that were only available in much higher-priced rifles. Savage became a "consumer sensitive" company, adopting many of the ideas and suggestions offered by firearm users. Management spent time in the field, listening to hunters, talking with guides and comparing notes with industry writers, many of which have since become good friends and confidants over the years. And, since there is no substitute for hands-on experience, management took all new products into the field themselves to learn and appreciate the features and benefits of any new offerings, and fine-tune as needed.read more...

Friday, January 15, 2010

Benchmade has made quite a name for itself in the Law enforcement and Military world. And with good reason. Their knives are some of the highest quality blades on the market. They use top notch materials, their attention to detail is second to none, and their products just plain work-what more could you ask for? Look for Blade and Gear reviews in the future, but for now check out their website here. And be sure to watch their video below. Till next time and remember- if it doesn't survive, you won't survive.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

On the left is Cold Steel's amazing version of a Gurkha Kukri. What the hell is a Kukri you ask? Well, here's what Wikipedia had to say:

The kukri (Devanāgarī: खुकुरी) (also sometimes spelled khukri or khukuri) is a curved Gurkhaknife which can be used as a tool as well as a close combat mêlée weapon. It is curved in shape and is the icon of Nepal. It was and in many cases still is the basic and traditional utility knife of the Nepalese people. Very effective when used as weapon, it is a symbolic weapon for all Gurkha regiments throughout the world and the Nepalese Army signifying the courage and valor of the bearer in the battlefield. read more here...

Well, now we know a little bit about what a Kukri is and it's history, but does the darn thing perform? You bet it does. Check out the video from Cold Steel below, and keep in mind this knife from Cold Steel costs under 20 bucks! This design is just amazing. Expect to hear more about Kukris in the future and remember-if it doesn't survive, you won't.

Blade and Gear is a collection of eclectic souls with a common goal- keeping your ass alive. We'll bring you reviews and source material of the best gear, guns, knives, videos and books to get you through the hard stuff when it counts. We'll also bring you the best urban survival, wilderness survival and disaster preparedness tips and tricks on the web. We won't pull punches and we'll say it like it is. It's a tough world out there and it's only getting tougher- are you?